Promoters Of Travel Services Are Banking On “Sarah Palin’s Alaska” To Deliver

Travel promoters have invested heavily in ads running during shows such as "Sarah Palin's Alaska" to boost Alaska's tourism

Tonight TLC will air the final episode of the eight episode series “Sarah Palin’s Alaska.” The series stars Alaska’s former governor and the vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin and, at times, her family, along with other guests. Travel promoters are banking heavily on the series and it’s two hour finale to spark interest in Alaska from the lower 48 states.

According to industry experts, the state saw a rise in tourism last year over 2009. Shows such as “Sarah Palin’s Alaska” on TLC and “Deadliest Catch” on the Discovery Channel have been hot ones for the Alaska Travel Industry Association. They have launched marketing ads on the cable TV series shows to get Alaska in front of as many people as possible.

“Obviously, any time you put Alaska in front of people, no matter the context, it’s a good thing,” Kathy Dunn told the Associate Press recently. She is the association’s marketing director. “Exposure is always good.”

Not all Alaskans are pleased with the shows however. Regarding “Sarah Palin’s Alaska,” many feel it’s hardly an accurate representation of how the state’s outdoor embracing population spend their time. Most of the trips Palin takes on the show, including the ones with guests such as Kate Gosselin and her 8 children, are nothing more than guided trips geared towards the mass market tourists.